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The Adventurers' Guide to Herbalism & Alchemy for FG&G
by Bruce [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 12/28/2024 17:05:25

I was interested in a guide book/system for how to map out formulas for the existing potions, ointments, and all of the other alchemical treasures listed within the 1e/2e DMG's. I had hoped for some guidance on what various monster bits and parts (brains, blood, muscles, sweat, saliva, etc.) could be used for by PC's/NPC's working as alchemists, making potions and such...

This book is not that -- at all. Rather, this book is a list of new potions. It really is a list of all new magic items. If that were what I was looking for, I would say it rates 4-5 stars. Unfortunately, that is not what I was looking for -- for that reason alone, I gave it three stars. It is good, for what it is.

It appears as though I will need to create what I want, myself, from whole cloth, which is what I had hoped to avoid. Cheers!



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
The Adventurers' Guide to Herbalism & Alchemy for FG&G
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The Adventurer’s Guide to Non-Player Characters
by Ethan [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 04/02/2024 22:04:03

I 100% agree with the publisher's statement on this. NPCs always seemed to have been treated like an afterthought at best and as cannon fodder at worst.

Even when my friends and I were playing the original B/X edition of D&D, I always made my NPCs as three-dimensional and fleshed out as possible. AD&D gave me a different rule set, but not much more regarding NPC creation.

This guide not only gives you more ideas to easily further flesh out the NPCs you (as a DM) are essentially using as a your own PC, but all those previously two-dimensional types in town who often never made it beyond the brief description phase.

For the price (especially the sale on April 1, 2024), you can't beat this. If you find a single idea within the three dozen or so pages and tables, you have already gotten your money's worth.

You are bound to get far more than that though.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
The Adventurer’s Guide to Non-Player Characters
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The Adventurer's Guide to Lost Arcana
by Rufus A. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 11/26/2018 21:34:22

I was going to do a write-up of cantrips for my own FG&G campaign and am lucky someone did it already for a good price. A really solid addition to any classic or 2nd ed retroclone campaign, really.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
The Adventurer's Guide to Lost Arcana
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The Adventurers' Guide to Herbalism & Alchemy for FG&G
by Derek H. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 08/30/2016 06:30:10

This is a hard book to review. In some ways it has earned 4 stars and in others 1. I also know the primary author, but that will have no bearing on what I post here.

The good includes how broad it is. There are chapters on herbalism, alchemy, greek fire, smoke powder and fire arms, and artificial life. The examples include a lof of text in their creation and use. The character options are not mechanically explained (i.e. they are not class write ups), but are interesting enough to encourage DMs to do so on their own. Or at least use them in game as is.

The okay is mostly related to the art. It looks like a alchemy text from the 1600's printed with modern technology. You may like or not. There are a few typos here and there, but nothing egregious. The layout is very much within the OSR ethos, which may or may not be to one's liking. It is not a pretty book, but it isn't hideous either.

The bad is how thin it is. Unlike The Compleat Alchemist, an obvious inspiration, there are rather few examples of herbal concoctions and alchemical creations (between 1/5th and 1/4th compared with the older work). The automatons are the same ones in The Compleat Alchemist, just with much more in depth descriptions on how they are made. The lack of information on how alchemists can make Philosopher's Stones and other alchemical items in the core rules is disappointing.

As someone who has a lot of rpg material on alchemy, herbalism and artifical life, this book is second tier at best. For someone who wants an OSR source and doesn't have a broad library of such subjects, it should be much more useful.



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
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